If the Alamance County jamboree served as the last dress rehearsal before the season-opener, it also was a second chance for the Eastern Alamance defense.

“A couple days ago against (Greensboro) Page, it was our first time going against somebody not in the same uniforms,” said Eagles cornerback Ryan Woods. “So … we kind of came off shaky, not as aggressive as we wanted to be on the defensive side.”

Friday night gave Woods and his teammates a chance to correct that aspect.

“(Friday) I really feel like the intensity stepped up,” Woods said. “I feel like we’re going to ready against Graham (in the season-opener).”

That was one the storylines from the mass scrimmage at Cummings High School. With the first games of the football season slated for next Friday night, the jamboree was a final opportunity for six teams to see what weaknesses need to be addressed.

Most of the reports were positive, while a couple of teams left the field with a few more injuries than preferable.

For the host Cavaliers, the jamboree was a chance for coach Steve Johnson to gauge the effort level of his team.

“We had to find out whether we would compete. Because I thought last year, we played two games last year where I thought Cummings quit during games,” said Johnson, who’s entering his 21st season at the school. “That’s never happened since I’ve been at Cummings.

“That was something that I thought would never happen, and we were thoroughly embarrassed by it.”

So did Johnson like what he saw?

“We found that our team competed,” Johnson said. “Maybe we’ve gotten better. I saw a lot of better things for us.”

Eastern Alamance coach John Kirby echoed Woods and was pleased — although he was cautiously optimistic.

“I’m happy. I don’t know if I need to be happy or not,” Kirby said. “I thought we played well and were consistent all day long. But it all for real starts next week. We’ve played in this thing where we’ve been really bad and we’ve come out (in the season and) had a pretty good year.”

The jamboree was probably more helpful for first-year Eastern Guilford coach Doug Robertson, who said his team has bought in to his system. But he said the Wildcats also have a few wrinkles to iron out before the opener.

“I thought we saw a lot of good things to build on,” Robertson said. “I think the kids are buying in. They’ve got a lot to learn. … Had a couple injuries, so that’s not good.”

Western Alamance coach Jeff Snuffer said his team was “banged up with some bruises.” But he was more concerned about what he saw from the players on the field.

“We’re disappointed. Did not look good in most of the scrimmages,” Snuffer said. “Our blocking was suspect, defense looked good again like it did last week.”

Yet, Snuffer saw promising play from a few younger players late in the scrimmage.

“We’re young in some positions, so we’re trying to get some guys to step up,” Snuffer said. “Pleased with the young guys coming up, but they may have to be ready before expected.”

North Forsyth and Jordan-Matthews rounded out the six-team field of the jamboree.